China frees Japanese 'intruders'

Tensions have been strained over the arrest of the captain of a Chinese trawler in disputed waters

China has freed three of four Japanese nationals detained a week ago and accused of intruding into a restricted military area in Hebei.

The Xinhua news agency said the fourth man was still being investigated for allegedly filming military sites.

They were held amid a diplomatic row between Beijing and Tokyo.

The dispute between the two neighbours centres on the seizing by Japan of a Chinese fishing boat and its crew after a collision in disputed waters.

Kyodo news agency in Japan reported that the four involved were in the construction industry and were believed to have been preparing to bid on a project to dispose of chemical weapons abandoned by Japanese forces in China at the end of World War II.

But they were accused of entering a closed military zone and arrested. According to state media the three Japanese nationals released on Thursday have admitted violating Chinese law.

The BBC's Michael Bristow, in Beijing, says the release should help ease tensions between China and Japan.

Ongoing disputesGas fields: The countries argue over gas exploration rights in the East China SeaDisputed islands: Both countries claim ownership of Senkaku/Diaoyu islandsYasukuni Shrine: Memorial to Japan's war dead which China sees as glorifying war criminalsQ&A: China-Japan islands row

Tensions have been high since Japan detained a Chinese captain whose fishing boat collided with Japanese patrol boats earlier this month.

The trawler was sailing in an area claimed by both countries, near uninhabited islands which may have oil and gas deposits.

Japanese prosecutors suspected the captain may have rammed the patrol ships deliberately.

He was eventually released after two weeks, but Japan has demanded an apology and insisted that China must pay damages for the repair costs of its two damaged patrol vessels.

This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Yon Harde Curt Shetrawski Tobie Ronald Morton Rinebold

New equality rights in workplace

"Everyone is protected by the new law," says the Equality and Human Rights Commission

New streamlined workplace equality rules are due to be implemented, after being approved by the government.

The Equality Act covers many workplace areas and draws nine separate pieces of legislation into a single Act.

Equalities Minister Theresa May says it will now be easier for firms to comply with anti-discrimination rules.

The Act also bans age discrimination by employers and includes provisions aimed at extending the rights of disabled people.

'Challenging times'

The new law restricts the circumstances in which employers can ask job applicants questions about disability or health prior to offering them a position, making it more difficult for disabled people to be unfairly screened out.

"In these challenging economic times it's more important than ever for employers to make the most of all the talent available," said Ms May.

There are also new powers for employment tribunals.

The Act will also stop employers using pay secrecy clauses to prevent employees discussing their own pay, which means men and women can compare pay.

But the Act will not make employers reveal how much they pay men compared with women, as had been planned by the Labour government.

'Sexual orientation'

"Everyone is protected by the new law," says the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

"It [the Act] covers age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex (meaning gender) and sexual orientation.

"Under the act people are not allowed to discriminate, harass or victimise another person because they belong to a group that the Act protects, they are thought to belong to one of those groups or are associated with someone who does."

During the summer there were some concerns expressed by shipping companies.

Some claimed the laws could force them to quit the UK because they would have to pay UK rates to foreign-based seafarers who do not have the burden of British living costs.

This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Stephani Bjornberg Buster Furcron Adele Fventes Ali Dasinger

China frees Japanese 'intruders'

Tensions have been strained over the arrest of the captain of a Chinese trawler in disputed waters

China has freed three of four Japanese nationals detained a week ago and accused of intruding into a restricted military area in Hebei.

The Xinhua news agency said the fourth man was still being investigated for allegedly filming military sites.

They were held amid a diplomatic row between Beijing and Tokyo.

The dispute between the two neighbours centres on the seizing by Japan of a Chinese fishing boat and its crew after a collision in disputed waters.

Kyodo news agency in Japan reported that the four involved were in the construction industry and were believed to have been preparing to bid on a project to dispose of chemical weapons abandoned by Japanese forces in China at the end of World War II.

But they were accused of entering a closed military zone and arrested. According to state media the three Japanese nationals released on Thursday have admitted violating Chinese law.

The BBC's Michael Bristow, in Beijing, says the release should help ease tensions between China and Japan.

Ongoing disputesGas fields: The countries argue over gas exploration rights in the East China SeaDisputed islands: Both countries claim ownership of Senkaku/Diaoyu islandsYasukuni Shrine: Memorial to Japan's war dead which China sees as glorifying war criminalsQ&A: China-Japan islands row

Tensions have been high since Japan detained a Chinese captain whose fishing boat collided with Japanese patrol boats earlier this month.

The trawler was sailing in an area claimed by both countries, near uninhabited islands which may have oil and gas deposits.

Japanese prosecutors suspected the captain may have rammed the patrol ships deliberately.

He was eventually released after two weeks, but Japan has demanded an apology and insisted that China must pay damages for the repair costs of its two damaged patrol vessels.

This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Eli Mckennan Athena Schwanz Clarence Nicotera Milda Picou